Motorcyclist Injured in West Palm Beach, Florida Hit-and-Run Accident

One man was injured in a West Palm Beach, Florida motorcycle accident Thursday after a driver collided with his vehicle on a state highway, then fled, news sources indicate. The driver, who was not identified in public reports, was later found by police and may face legal charges as an investigation into the crash moves forward. The motorcyclist, who was also not identified, sustained critical but non-life threatening injuries. It is unclear whether the other driver was injured. It is unclear whether speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Reports say the accident occurred around 6:00 Thursday morning along Dixie Highway near Oxford Street in West Palm Beach. The motorcyclist was traveling southbound along the highway when the driver of a truck, heading northbound, collided with him. Reports say the motorcyclist was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The driver of the truck did not stop, sources say, and continued northbound along the highway.

Paramedics transported the motorcyclist to a nearby hospital with critical injuries. Physicians say he will likely make a full recovery. Police have since arrested the hit-and-run driver, though charges are pending, as an investigation into the crash is ongoing. Detectives will likely press charges after they have ironed out the details of the wreck. It remains to be seen whether the victim will seek damages.

In other accident-related news, Willie J. Smith of Palm Springs, Florida was killed in an accident Saturday when his truck veered off the road and crashed into a utility pole, news sources indicate. Smith, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. It is unclear why he swerved off the road; investigators have yet to determine whether alcohol or a possible medical condition may have caused the crash.

Reports say the accident occurred around 1:00 on Saturday morning along a portion of Country Road 717 near Pahokee. Smith, who did not have any passengers at the time, was traveling west along CR-717 when his 1997 Ford F250 veered onto the road’s side. Smith regained control of the vehicle, report say, and it re-entered the roadway, only to swerve once more across a number of lanes and onto the opposing shoulder. When it hit the shoulder, reports say it flipped over and collided with a utility extremity. Smith, who was not wearing his safety belt, was partly thrown from the truck. Luckily, no other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Paramedics arrived on the scene, where they pronounced Smith dead. Investigators are so far unsure why Smith’s vehicle left the roadway. A toxicology report will indicate whether Smith may have been under the influence of alcohol or another controlled substance. However, it is too early to rule out the possibility of a medical condition or a possible mechanical failure. Reports did not specify whether any witnesses were present.

Records show that there were 13,410 traffic accidents in Palm Beach County in 2010. Out of those accidents, 1,123 were caused by drunk drivers. According to reports, 31 people in Palm Beach were killed in those crashes.